View full sizeAP Photo | FileClayton Kershaw won the 2011 NL Cy Young Award after leading the league in strikeouts, ERA and wins. On Sunday, he was named the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award.

MIDLAND, MI — Former Great Lakes Loons star Clayton Kershaw was named the 2012 winner of the Roberto Clemente Award before Game 4 of the World Series Sunday, Oct. 28, at Comerica Park.

The Clemente Award is given to the player who "best represents the game through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement."

Kershaw, with his wife Ellen, founded Kershaw's Challenge, a charitable organization that helps people give back to at-risk children and communities.

Kershaw's charity, "Arise Africa," helps build and sustain an orphanage in Lusaka, Zambia. Kershaw and his wife wrote a book "Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself" about their trips to Africa.

Kershaw also has supported the Peacock Foundation in Los Angeles, Mercy Street in Dallas and Dodgers initiatives such as the Community Caravan, Habitat for Humanity Build and the Dodgers Dream Foundation Youth Baseball Camp.

“It is an incredible honor to receive this award,” Kershaw said in a press release. “Just being associated with someone like Roberto Clemente is truly humbling and I am extremely grateful.”

Kershaw won the National League Cy Young Award in 2011.

The left-handed starter played for the Loons in 2007, posting a 7-5 record.